BR112019005223B1 - COATING ARRANGEMENT FOR PROTECTION AGAINST WEAR AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING COATING ELEMENTS TO A SUPPORT STRUCTURE - Google Patents

Abstract

The description relates to a lining arrangement (3) for wear protection, comprising: at least one lining element (1, 1') arranged to be fixed to a supporting structure (2) and at least one device, the device comprising: a first element (4; 4') adapted to be received in a through hole (8) of the at least one said lining element (1, 1') or a through hole (8) created by lining elements adjacent elements (1, 1'), the first element (4; 4') having an axially disposed opening (41); a second element (5, 5') for engagement with the first element (4, 4'), such that the at least one covering element (1, 1') is attached to the support structure (2) at the interconnection between the first element (4, 4') and the second element (5, 5'), and an outer periphery of the second element (5, 5') comprising a plurality of grooves (9) for engagement with a tool of maneuver (10). The description further relates to a method for fixing cladding elements (1, 1') to a support structure (2).

Description

technical field

[0001] The disclosure relates to a cladding arrangement and a method for attaching cladding elements to a support structure.

prior art

[0002] Coating arrangements are used to protect surfaces and/or structures on machines that, during their operation, are exposed to a significant level of wear of the material handled by the machines. Such machines usually handle materials such as sand, gravel, stone, ore, etc. which, with or without water being added, cause significant wear on the exposed surfaces over which the material moves. To prolong the service life of exposed surfaces, these are coated with wear-resistant coating elements made of wear-resistant material.

[0003] Typically, such wear resistant lining materials are an elastomeric material, some type of ceramic or a combination thereof. Lining elements provide wear protection for, among other things, chutes, drums, bins, feeders, feed hoppers, transshipment sites and vehicle platforms such as haul truck bodies, in stone work, mining, aggregates, and in the installation industry. Due to the large number of different applications where wear liners are used as wear protection, wear linings are often manufactured to allow fit and cut to suit a particular surface type and shape. It is important that the wear liner is securely attached to the support surface so that it will remain in place when subjected to vibration, shock and impact. In many cases it is also desirable to be able to quickly change the wear liner as it begins to wear out.

[0004] Conventional fastening methods typically rely on fastening the cladding elements using fasteners that are arranged to secure the cladding elements to the support structure by means of one or more conventional screws, such as through bolts. A disadvantage of these systems is that fixing and loosening the screws can be time consuming and difficult, increasing machine downtime. Another problem with prior art fasteners is that they require a substantial amount of force and that service personnel are exposed to a high risk of damage when fastening the cladding elements.

Summary of the invention

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement of the above and prior art. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved cladding arrangement and a method for easily attaching cladding elements to a supporting structure in a convenient and reliable manner.

[0006] According to a first aspect, there is provided a lining arrangement for protection against wear comprising at least one lining element arranged to be attached to a supporting structure, and at least one device, said device comprising: a first element adapted to be received in a through hole of at least one said skin element or a through hole created by adjacent skin elements, a second element for engagement with said first element such that at least one said element liner is attached to said support structure at the interconnection between said first element and said second element, and an outer periphery of said second element comprising a plurality of grooves for engagement with a maneuvering tool.

[0007] This can be advantageous as it provides an improved cladding arrangement that allows for easier and faster mounting and dismounting of the individual cladding elements on the support structure. With the maneuver tool, maintenance personnel can remove the second element from the first element faster and more conveniently than would be the case with a conventional casing arrangement. This is all the more advantageous as the most dangerous stage of the fixing process will be removed. There is no longer any need to use a hammer in order to force the individual cladding elements into place. Instead, a bolting tool is used to secure the facing elements to the support structure by engaging the second element with the first element.

[0008] The first element can be attached to the support structure in different ways. According to some embodiments, the first element is adapted to engage with the lining element(s) and the support structure, and when the second element is engaged with the first element, the element(s) casing is(are) attached to the support structure. According to alternative embodiments, the first element is adapted to be attached to the support structure prior to engagement with the lining element and the second element. The first element can be attached by means of welding or by means of fastening by means of a bolt and nut.

[0009] According to some embodiments, the grooves extend in an axial direction and along at least a portion of the length of the second member.

[0010] According to some embodiments, the grooves extend in an axial direction and along the entire length of said second element.

[0011] According to some embodiments, the grooves extend in an axial direction and along a limited portion of the length of said second element.

[0012] According to some embodiments, each cladding element comprises at least one through hole, said through hole having a first circumference along a first portion of its axial direction and a second circumference along a second portion of its axial direction, said second circumference being smaller than said first circumference. Thus, in one embodiment, an abutment surface is formed at the transition between the first and second through-hole portions.

[0013] According to some embodiments, said perimeter surface of adjacent cladding elements has shapes that create at least one opening, said at least one opening having a first circumference along a first portion of its axial direction and a second circumference along a second portion of its axial direction, said second circumference being smaller than said first circumference.

[0014] According to some embodiments, the first element comprises a glove member having a flange with a radial extension disposed at a first end thereof.

[0015] According to some embodiments, the first element is made of a flexible and deformable material and is preferably chosen from the group consisting of thermoplastic or polyurethane material or combinations thereof.

[0016] According to some embodiments, the first element is arranged to expand in a radial direction upon engagement with said second element.

[0017] According to some embodiments, the first element has slit openings arranged in a longitudinal extension at a second end opposite said first end.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the second element is manufactured in a material chosen from the group consisting of ceramic, steel, or rigid plastic material.

[0019] According to some embodiments, the first element has an external thread, and said second element is adapted for engagement with said thread of said first element.

[0020] According to some embodiments, the axially arranged opening of said first element is adapted to receive a screw for fastening to said support structure by means of said screw and a nut.

[0021] According to some embodiments, said first element is manufactured by a material chosen from the group consisting of ceramic, steel, or rigid plastic material.

[0022] According to some embodiments, the second element is manufactured by a thermoplastic material or a polyurethane or combinations thereof.

[0023] According to some embodiments, the second element comprises a core and an outer skin, the core being relatively softer than the outer skin.

[0024] According to some embodiments, the thread of said first element is arranged to cut said core of the second element when said second element is threaded onto the first element.

[0025] According to some embodiments, an inner periphery of the at least one said through hole comprises a projection for engagement with the outer periphery and/or the lower portion of said second element.

[0026] According to a second aspect of the invention, these and other objects are achieved, in whole or at least in part, by a method for attaching cladding elements to a support structure. The method comprises placing an aperture of a cladding element or an aperture created by adjacent cladding elements above an attachment position of a support structure, said aperture having a first circumference along a first portion and a second circumference along a second portion of its axial direction, engaging a first element with said support structure, and coupling a second element with said first element through engagement of a maneuvering tool with a plurality of slots provided on an outer periphery of said second element, and creating a threading movement of said second element, thereby attaching said cladding element or cladding elements to said support structure.

[0027] According to an embodiment of this second aspect, the step of placing an opening of said cladding element or an opening created by adjacent cladding elements above a fixing position of said support structure is performed before coupling the said first element with said support structure, and then coupling the second element with said first element.

[0028] According to another embodiment of this second aspect, the step of coupling said first element with said support structure, is performed before placing an opening of said cladding element or an opening created by adjacent cladding elements above from a fixing position of said support structure and then coupling the second element with said first element.

[0029] Effects and characteristics of the second aspect are largely analogous to those described above in connection with the first aspect.

[0030] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description below, from the appended claims, as well as from the drawings. It should be noted that the invention concerns all possible combinations of features.

[0031] Generally speaking, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their common meaning in the technical field, unless otherwise explicitly defined herein. All references to “an/a/the, the, the, the [element, device, component, medium, step, etc.]” should be construed as referring openly to at least one example of said element, device, component, medium, step, etc. , unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0032] As used herein, the term "comprising" and variations thereof is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

[0033] As used herein, the expression "adapted to be received" in, for example, in the phrase "a first element adapted to be received in a through hole", means that at least a part of said first element is adapted to be spatially positioned within the through hole.

Brief description of the drawings

[0034] The above features and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional objects, will be better understood through the following non-limiting detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the attached drawings, where the same reference numerals can be used for similar elements, and in which:

[0035] Figures 1a-c show an embodiment of a second element, Figure 1a shows a side view, Figure 1b shows a cross-section along the line A-A, and Figure 1c shows a cross-section along the line B-B line.

[0036] Figures 2a-b illustrate a sequence of steps of a fixing method according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0037] Figures 3a-b illustrate a cross-sectional view of Figures 2a-b.

[0038] Figure 4 shows a cladding arrangement according to one embodiment.

[0039] Figures 5a-d illustrate a sequence of steps of a fastening method according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0040] Figure 5e illustrates a cladding arrangement according to one embodiment.

Detailed Description

[0041] Figures 2a-b and 3a-b illustrate a cladding arrangement 3 with different parts included in a device that is used to fasten the cladding elements 1 to a support structure 2 according to an exemplary embodiment. The lining elements 1 are typically used for machines having surfaces exposed to wear, such as, for example, feeders, chutes, compartments, silos, drums, transport truck bodies, etc.. Thus, the support structure 2 can be a support surface of such a machine.

[0042] Alternatively, the support structure 2 can be a frame, grid, or the like. The fastening device mainly includes a first element 4 and a second element 5.

[0043] The casing element 1 has a through hole 8, which has a first circumference along a first portion 81 of its axial extent and a second circumference along a second portion 82 of its axial extent. Thus, at the transition between the first portion 81 and the second portion 82, an abutment surface 83 is formed. The facing element 1 is positioned on a support surface 20 with an alignment of a fastening position on the support surface 20 and on the through hole 8.

[0044] The first element 4 is positioned and received in the through hole 8. The first element comprises a sleeve member having an opening 41 axially disposed, a flange 42 disposed at a first end 44 thereof, and slotted openings 43 disposed in a longitudinal extension of a second end 45 opposite the first end 44. When the first element 4 is positioned and received in the through hole 8, the lower surface of the flange 42 is arranged to rest on the abutment surface 83.

[0045] Then, the second element 5 is positioned and arranged to couple with the first element 4 and will be screwed onto the first element 4 so that the first element 4 expands in a radial direction and locks the cladding element 1 in place on support structure 2, see Figure 2b and 3b.

[0046] Figures 1a-c show an embodiment of the second element 5. The second element 5 comprises a first portion 51 and a second portion 52. The first portion 51 has spaced apart grooves 9 on its outer periphery and the grooves 9 extend to from the upper portion of the first portion 51 to the bottom portion of the first portion 51 in an axial direction along the entire length of the first portion 51. The grooves 9 are used during attachment and release of the second element to the first element 4, which can be done by means of a maneuver tool 10 (see Figures 4 and 5c-d). As can be seen from Figures 4, and 5c-d, the maneuvering tool 10 has a shaft 11 and a lower section which is annular and comprises spaced apart projections 12 on its lower portion. The projections 12 are configured to correspond with the slots 9 provided on the outer periphery of the second element 5. If the slots 9 are clogged with material such as fines or the like, the projections can push the material deeper into the slots 9 to enter in contact with the grooves 9 of the second element 5. The main advantage of the present invention is that, although the second element 5 is subjected to intense wear during use, the maneuvering tool 10 can still be used to remove it. This is because the grooves 9 extend throughout, or at least along a substantial part of, the height of the first portion 51 of the second element 5.

[0047] Referring to the embodiment shown in Figures 1a-c, Figures 2a-b, and Figures 3a-b, the second portion 52 of the second element 5 has an external thread 53 for engagement with the axially disposed opening 41 of the first element 4. In this embodiment, the first element 4 is preferably made of a somewhat flexible or deformable material and can preferably be divided into two or more parts, for example the slit openings 43 shown. The second element 5 is preferably made of a harder, more rigid material that is strong enough to deform the relatively softer material of the first element 4.

[0048] In alternative embodiments, there is a thread on both of the two elements 4, 5, but there may be a thread on only one of the two elements 4, 5. If there is an internal thread on the first element 4, the second element 5 will be threaded on the first element 4 and will deform according to its internal thread, thus creating a locking interconnection between the two elements 4, 5. If there is an external thread on the second element 5, it will be threaded on the first element 4 so that the first element element 4 is deformed to the external thread of the second element 5, thus creating a locking interconnection between the two elements 4, 5. The choice of materials is made in such a way that element 4, 5, having thread in it, is normally more harder than the element 4, 5, being deformed by the thread.

[0049] In another alternative embodiment, both elements 4, 5 have a respective thread, but not in a continuous way. On the contrary, the respective thread will be spaced at corresponding intervals in the circumferential direction of the elements 4, 5. This means that in a given mutual position of the first and second elements 4, 5, the second element 5 can move vertically downwards inside the first element 4 until it comes to a stop near the bottom of the first element 4. Then the second element 5 is turned in such a way that the threaded parts of the first and second element 4, 5 come into connection with each other and the second element 5 is moved still inside the first element 4 and making them interlocked.

[0050] Figure 4 shows a cladding arrangement 3 with a pair of devices each comprising a first and second element 4, 5, according to the embodiment of Figures 1a-b, 2a-b and 3a-b arranged and fixed to a support structure 2, and a device is shown as to be positioned and screwed into place.

[0051] Figures 5a-e illustrate another embodiment of the coating arrangement described 3'. Figure 5a illustrates a first element 4' which is attached to the support structure 2 by means of a screw 6 and a nut 7. The first element 4' has an external thread and is hollow, so that the screw 6 can be inserted on the same, still through the support structure 2, and be attached from below on the support structure 2 by means of the nut 7. The first element 4' is adapted to be received in a through hole 8 of the covering element 1 or a through hole 8 created by adjacent facing elements 1 which are to be fixed to the support structure 2. The first element 4' of this embodiment is preferably made of a hard material, such as a ceramic material, steel, or a plastic material hard.

[0052] The second element 5', as shown in Figures 5c and 5d is also annular and has an internal thread for engagement with the external thread of the first element 4' in order to fix the cladding element(s) to the structure support 2. The second member 5' has spaced apart grooves 9 on its outer periphery and is preferably made of a thermoplastic material. The grooves 9 extend from the top portion of the second element 5' to the bottom portion of the second element 5', in the axial direction along their entire length. The grooves 9 are used during the fixing or loosening of the second element 5' to the first element 4', which is done by means of a maneuvering tool 10 (Figures 5c and 5d). The maneuver tool 10 is the same as described above for the embodiment shown in Figures 1 - 4.

[0053] Figures 5a-5d illustrate a sequence of steps for fixing the cladding element(s) 1 to the support structure 2 according to an example of the fixing method.

[0054] As a first step (Figure 5a), the first element 4' is attached to the support structure 2 by means of the screw 6 and the nut 7. The first element 4' is hollow with an internal annular abutment surface (not shown), provided in the bottom section. The head of the screw 6 abuts against this abutment surface when mounting to the support structure 2. As opposed to using a separate screw 6, it is also possible to provide the first element 4' with a threaded projection at a lower end thereof with the to which the first element 4 can be attached to the support of the screen panel 2 by a nut 7. The first element 4' can, in that case, have an axially arranged opening or it can be solid.

[0055] Subsequently, according to a second step (Figure 5b), the cladding element 1, to be attached to the support structure 2, is placed on top of the first element 4' so that the through hole 8 of the cladding element(s) 1 receive(s) the first element 4'.

[0056] Finally, in a third step (Figure 5c-d), the second element 5' is threaded onto the first element 4' so that the internal thread of the second element 5' engages with the external thread of the first element 4 '. The maneuvering tool 10 is used to rotate the second element 5' by engaging the projections 12 of the maneuvering tool 10 with the grooves 9 of the second element 5' and then rotating the shaft 11 of the maneuvering tool 10. When the second element 5' is completely threaded onto the first element 4', the upper portion of the second element 5' is aligned with the upper surface of the casing element 1.

[0057] The casing element(s) 1 shown in Figures 2a-b, 3a-b and 5a-b have through holes 8 having a first circumference along a first portion 81 and a second circumference along a first portion 81 along the second portion 82 of its axial extension. Furthermore, the second element 5' (embodiment shown in Figures 5a-b) and the first portion 51 of the second element 5 (embodiment shown in Figures 2a-b, 3a-b) have an outer circumference smaller than the first circumference of the through hole 8 and with an outside circumference greater than the second circumference of the through hole 8. In other words, the through holes 8 are so-called stepped holes. This feature allows the second element 5' (embodiment shown in Figures 5a-b) and the first portion 51 of the second element 5 (embodiment shown in Figures 2a-b, 3a-b) to penetrate the element(s) of casing 1 and, at least in part, fill the volume defined by the first portion 81 of the through hole 8 having the first circumference.

[0058] In Figure 5e, three facing elements 1 are fixed on a grid support structure 2. As illustrated in Figures 5a-e, the through hole 8 is formed by the circumferential surfaces 16 of adjacent facing elements 1, 1 ', having shapes 8a, 8b that create at least one opening 8, the at least one said opening 8 having a first circumference, along a first portion of its axial direction, and a second circumference, along a second portion of the its axial direction, said second circumference being smaller than said first circumference.

[0059] The person skilled in the art understands that a number of modifications of the embodiments described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

[0060] For example, the shape and size of the components described above can be varied in any suitable way. Specifically, the dimensions of the first portion of the second element 5, 5' can be chosen to correspond to a thickness of the lining element(s), thus allowing better protection against wear of the second element 5, 5' . The first element 4, 4' and the second element 5, 5' can have an annular shape, as well as other shapes that are suitable for their purposes. The same applies for the internal thread, the external thread and the grooves 8.

[0061] The internal and/or external thread can be inclined, a preferred angle can be approximately 45 degrees.

[0062] The groove 8 can extend along the entire length of the second element 5' or along a predetermined distance of the length of the second element 5' or extend along the entire length of the first portion 51 of the second element 5 or along a predetermined distance of the length of the second element 5.

[0063] The person skilled in the art also understands that the first element 4 can be mounted with the top portion in the form of a flange or similar, below the sieving module 1, i.e. directly on the support of the sieve panel 2. In this case , it is imaginable that the flange is arranged in a recess or similar arranged both in the support of the screen panel 2 and/or on the underside of the screening module 1 in order to create a flat contact surface between the screening module 1 and the sieve panel holder 2.

[0064] The device may comprise one or more additional elements. For example, a fastener having an axially disposed opening can be positioned between the first element 4, 4' and the second element 5, 5', such that the fastener is pressed towards the support structure 2 in the interconnection between the first element 4; 4' and the second element 5; 5'. Thus, if the facing elements 1, 1' are arranged between the fastening element and the support structure 2, the fastening element can be used to fix the facing elements 1, 1' towards the supporting structure 2. An example of such a fastener is the fastener spider disclosed in WO 2007/008135 A1.

Claims (15)

1. Wear protection lining arrangement, characterized in that it comprises at least one lining element (1, 1') arranged to be attached to a support structure (2) and at least one device, said device comprising : - a first element (4; 4') adapted to be received in a through hole (8) of at least one said covering element (1, 1') or a through hole (8) created by adjacent covering elements ( 1, 1'), said through hole (8) having a first circumference along a first portion (81) of its axial direction, and a second circumference along a second portion (82) of its axial direction, the said second circumference being smaller than said first circumference; wherein an abutment surface (83) is formed at the transition between said first portion (81) and said second portion (82) of said through hole (8); - a second element (5; 5') for engagement with said first element (4; 4'), such that at least one said covering element (1, 1') is attached to said support structure (2 ) by means of interconnection between said first element (4; 4') and said second element (5; 5'), and an outer periphery of said second element (5, 5') comprising a plurality of grooves (9) for engagement with a maneuvering tool (10). 2. Cladding arrangement, according to claim 1, characterized in that said grooves (9) extend in an axial direction and along at least a portion of the length of said second element (5, 5'). 3. Cladding arrangement, according to claim 1, characterized in that said grooves (9) extend in an axial direction and along a limited portion of the length of said second element (5). 4. Cladding arrangement, according to claim 1, characterized in that a surface of the circumference (16) of the adjacent cladding elements (1, 1') has shapes (8a, 8b) that create at least one opening (8 ), at least one said opening (8) having a first circumference along a first portion (81) of its axial direction and a second circumference along a second portion (82) of its axial direction, said second circumference being smaller than said first circumference. 5. Coating arrangement according to any claim 1, characterized in that said first element (4) comprises a glove member having a flange (42) with a radial extension arranged at a first end (44) thereof . 6. Coating arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that said first element (4) is arranged to expand in a radial direction in engagement with said second element (5). 7. Coating arrangement, according to claim 5, characterized in that said first element (4) is manufactured in a flexible and deformable material. 8. Coating arrangement, according to claim 7, characterized in that the flexible and deformable material is chosen from the group consisting of thermoplastic material or polyurethane or combinations thereof. 9. Cladding arrangement, according to claim 5, characterized in that said first element has slit openings (43) arranged in a longitudinal extension at a second end opposite said first end. 10. Coating arrangement, according to claim 1, characterized in that said first element (4') has an external thread, and said second element (5') is adapted for engagement with said thread of said first element (4Z) . 11. Cladding arrangement, according to claim 10, characterized in that said first element (4') is manufactured from a material chosen from the group consisting of ceramic material, steel or rigid plastic. 12. Cladding arrangement, according to claim 10, characterized in that an axially arranged opening of said first element (4') is adapted to receive a screw (6) for attachment to said support structure (2) by means of of said screw (6) and a nut (7). 13. Method for fixing cladding elements to a support structure, characterized in that it comprises: - placing an opening (8) of a cladding element (1) or an opening (8) created by adjacent cladding elements (1, 1') above a position of attachment of a support structure (2), said opening (8) having a first circumference along a first portion (81) and a second smaller circumference along a second portion (82) ) of its axial direction, whereby an abutment surface (83) is formed in the transition between said first portion (81) and said second portion (82) of said opening (8); - coupling a first element (4; 4') with said support structure (2); and - coupling a second element (5; 5') with said first element (4; 4') by engaging a maneuvering tool (10) with a plurality of grooves (9) provided on an external periphery of said second element (5, 5'), and - creating a threading movement of said second element (5, 5'), thus attaching said covering element (1) or covering elements (1, 1') to said structure of support (2). 14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the step of placing an opening (8) of said covering element (1) or an opening (8) created by adjacent covering elements (1, 1') about a fixing position of said support structure (2) being carried out before coupling said first element (4, 4') with said support structure (2) and then coupling the second element (5, 5 ') with said first element (4, 4'). 15. Method, according to claim 13, characterized in that the step of coupling said first element (4, 4') with said support structure (2), is carried out before placing an opening (8) of the said covering element (1) or an opening (8) created by adjacent covering elements (1, 1') on a fixing position of said support structure (2) and then coupling the second element (5, 5') with said first element (4, 4').

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